Good-Bye to Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze passed away yesterday evening after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Asheville fans are particularly sad at his passing, because it was his signature role as Johnny in “Dirty Dancing” that put nearby Lake Lure on the map.

Filmed in 1987, “Dirty Dancing” was a low-budget film that used Lake Lure, NC as the backdrop for numerous scenes in the movie. When the film became a blockbuster, fans flocked to the area in an effort to capture a bit of magic from the film.

The infamous lake where Johnny and Baby practice lifts is Lake Lure. Johnny’s cabin and other cabins used in the movie were also located nearby. Although the buildings no longer exist, the movie put a little-known southern town on the map with a simple little phrase: “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”